87R1989 MCK-D     By: J. Johnson of Harris H.B. No. 575       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the Department of Family and Protective Services   enrolling certain foster children in the Preparation for Adult   Living Program.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 264.121(a), Family Code, is amended to   read as follows:          (a)  The department shall address the unique challenges   facing foster children in the conservatorship of the department who   must transition to independent living by:                (1)  expanding efforts to improve transition planning   and increasing the availability of transitional family group   decision-making to all youth age 14 or older in the department's   permanent managing conservatorship, including enrolling all [the]   youth who have been in the department's conservatorship for at   least four years after the youth's 10th birthday in the Preparation   for Adult Living Program [before the age of 16];                (2)  coordinating with the commission to obtain   authority, to the extent allowed by federal law, the state Medicaid   plan, the Title IV-E state plan, and any waiver or amendment to   either plan, necessary to:                      (A)  extend foster care eligibility and   transition services for youth up to age 21 and develop policy to   permit eligible youth to return to foster care as necessary to   achieve the goals of the Transitional Living Services Program; and                      (B)  extend Medicaid coverage for foster care   youth and former foster care youth up to age 21 with a single   application at the time the youth leaves foster care; and                (3)  entering into cooperative agreements with the   Texas Workforce Commission and local workforce development boards   to further the objectives of the Preparation for Adult Living   Program. The department, the Texas Workforce Commission, and the   local workforce development boards shall ensure that services are   prioritized and targeted to meet the needs of foster care and former   foster care children and that such services will include, where   feasible, referrals for short-term stays for youth needing housing.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.